Not since my first flu shot, have I ever gotten such a
reaction. I had an appointment with my Doctor and he insisted
that I needed both the flu and pneumonia shot. I took it
like a woman but by the time I got home, I was in terrific
pain in both arms and aching all over. This makes me think
that the flu shots at drug stores may not be full strength.

Ted is at the V. A. this morning. He has his once a year
appointment with his primary care physician. He took my
car and I find it difficult to drive the Suburban. The seat
doesn't go all the way up and I can hardly reach the pedals.

I just finished Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff. It was a really good read. From the pictures that she had made on her coins,
she had a hook nose and she was not beautiful. Rather, her
intelligence, splendid education and wit were what captivated
her suitors. She was Greek. I thought it very interesting
that Marc Antony's wife came to Egypt to fetch him home and
he sent her back to Rome. Since his wife, was Octavian's
sister that cooked his goose. When he heard, erroneously
that Queen Cleo was dead he fell on his sword. She, in
fact was under house arrest but had no inclination to be
marched back to Rome in chains and had the asp smuggled in
in a basket of figs. Most of her ladies committed suicide
too.

She was ruthless and had her siblings all killed but she
was a magnificent ruler. Egypt's wealth was a plum that
Rome ached to pick. Caesar's son was murdered by Octavian's
command but Marc Antony's wife raised all of his and Cleopatra's children. She must have been a saint and by
all accounts was beautiful.

She has been defamed because of her lust and witchcraft
but we can be perfectly sure it wasn't by occult means
that she inflamed her lovers. She was one of the first
feminists and the last queen of Egypt.